Bay View votes to keep Christian membership requirement

A proposal that would extend Bay View Association membership possibilities to those without a Christian affiliation recently fell short of the member support it would need to take effect.

In an election on Aug. 6, members considered a proposal for modifying the United Methodist Church-affiliated association’s bylaws so that an applicant would not need to be a member of a Christian church to be considered for leaseholding membership (cottages at Bay View can be individually owned, but the land on which they sit is leased from the association).

Under the proposed change, membership candidates would need to demonstrate understanding of, and support for, the association’s Christian traditions and historic Chautauqua program. An interview and reference from a religious leader would be required as part of the application process.

The proposal was supported by 346 members, or 48 percent of those voting. Some 381 members, or 52 percent of those participating in the election, voted against dropping a Christian affiliation from membership requirements. For the bylaw change to be successful, two-thirds of the voters in the election would have needed to support it.

Larry Ternan, president of Bay View’s board of trustees, said he sensed that many who opposed the change tend to view the organization as a church or religious camp meeting.

Peggy Child-Smith, a Bay View member who favored keeping a Christian affiliation as part of the membership requirements, noted that several elements of Bay View’s history — its roots as religious camp meeting and Chautauqua cultural and educational community and Victorian character — have been well-preserved, and she believes that a Christian focus has contributed to this. She added that providing a Christian perspective in a changing world has remained part of the association’s stated mission, and that the association’s unique and traditional attributes perhaps could fade if the faith requirements for membership changed.

“I think one of the strengths of Bay View is its commitment to its Christian heritage and tradition,” Child-Smith said.

At the same time, Child-Smith noted that Bay View extends opportunities to rent a cottage or participate in religious or cultural activities to the public regardless of their faith affiliation.

Ternan emphasized this as well.

“Bay View invites the public to its grounds — people of all faiths and races — and is very inclusive in its programs and activities,” he said.

This year, Bay View member Al Reynolds helped coordinate a petition drive in favor of extending membership opportunities beyond those with a Christian affiliation, and helped to develop ballot language for the bylaw proposal.

Reynolds, a Unitarian Universalist whose primary residence is in Charlottesville, Va., participates in Bay View’s United Methodist religious offerings while there in the summer. His wife, Helen, an Episcopalian, also was involved in the petition drive.

“A lot of us think that Christianity is a very inclusive religion,” he said, noting that Jesus often worked to break down barriers in his mission efforts and that the United Methodist Church’s perspective tends to be inclusive as well.

Reynolds noted that some who have grown up in Bay View families may take on new faith affiliations — perhaps through marriage — yet still wish to remain involved as members. In such cases, he said the Christian affiliation requirement can present challenges.

“This has happened in a number of cases, and (some supporters of the bylaw change) feel that’s really not fair and right,” he said.

Ternan noted that placing a cottage in a trust status can be one potential option for Bay View members who would like to pass it along to a family member with another faith affiliation.

Reynolds said this year’s discussion about the proposed dialogue change remained civil in tone. As with the association’s membership, he and Ternan noted that viewpoints on the board of trustees tend to split fairly evenly on both sides of the issue.

“We in our community really need to continue discussions of it,” Reynolds said. “And I think that will continue.”

Bay View’s board did not take a stance on the bylaw change leading up to the election, but did note that there was a question concerning the application of the federal Fair Housing Act and Michigan Civil Rights Act at Bay View. These prohibit religion from being a factor in the sale or rental of real estate, although exemptions are available for affiliated and religious organizations.

Whether these exemptions apply in Bay View is a matter that needs further investigation, Ternan said.